Taspo Card Lent To Teenager

Do you remember the entry we had in April about the smart card that will, ideally, deter teenagers from purchasing cigarettes from vending machines? One of our readers, Jacl, commented on that post:

The only thing is … the machine will not “see” who is actually using the taspo card. If a minor is truly serious in trying to buy cigarettes, it wouldn’t stop the teenager from “borrowing” the taspo card from an adult and using it or finding some other creative ways around it.

Was he right! I was browsing Japanese-related news today when I ran across an article talking about a mother who lent her taspo card to her 15-year-old son! The article from AP goes:

Japanese police are demanding charges against a woman who allegedly lent her 15-year-old son an identification “smart card,” which is being introduced to prevent minors from buying cigarettes from vending machines.

The mother, 41, whose name was not disclosed because she has not been charged, lent her taspo to her son Monday so he could buy cigarettes to smoke in their home, a police official in southwestern Fukuoka prefecture said Tuesday.

Police have sent papers to prosecutors demanding charges of violating the law banning minors from smoking, he said on condition of anonymity because he was merely reading from police records. The maximum penalty is a 10,000 yen (US$96; €62) fine.

If parents themselves do not respect the rationale behind the taspo card, then I suspect that the Japanese government’s campaign may not be as effective as they had foreseen it. Then again, with prosecution as a possibility, then parents might think more than twice before doing something like this.

Get Rid Of The Common Cold With Acerola Berries

Oriental medicine has become big even in the world market. When conventional western treatments do not work, many people turn to cures from the east – and Japan is one of the main countries which offer leading cures. Surprisingly enough, one of the most popular cures in Japan today is not indigenous to the country. I am talking about the acerola berry, which is used widely across the country to cure the common cold.

The acerola berry is a small red berry which is native to the West Indies. It is also known as the Barbados cherry or wild crapemyrtle. Products based on the acerola berry are very popular in Japan today. In fact, if you were to visit Tokyo, or any other major city in Japan, you would see bottles and bottles of acerola berry products. Drug stores, supermarkets, and even convenience stores carry these products.

Why is the berry so popular? Because it is quite effective in keeping one healthy and keeping the common cold away. More than that, the acerola berry (or its products) can make your cold go away faster. The concept is nothing new, really. The reason behind the effectiveness of the acerola berry is its high vitamin C content. It also contains a lot of flavanoids.

How potent is the acerola berry? According to some studies, a drop of acerola juice can contain the same amount of vitamin C that an 8 oz can of orange juice has! So, if you are interested in something healthy and novel (at least for us in the west), you might want to check out acerola berry products.

Robots taking care of senior citizens

In Katsuhiro Otomo’s anime Roujin – Z, caring for the elderly has become such an issue that a robotic bed system was developed in order to take care of them.

Now, in what looks like another case of life imitating art, the Japanese are beginning to use the help of robots in caring for the elderly and the sick.

These robots may not look as sleek as the humanoid like drones developed by Honda or even as technologically advanced as the bed system in Otomo’s Roujin Z, but nevertheless, this system is helping in giving care to the elderly in their own unique way.

The robot, a product made by the Business Design Laboratory Co., is called Yorisoi ifbot and it can “talk” to its users. The 604,800 yen priced device’s main purpose is to help entertain children but it has gained a lot of demand from senior citizens and families who take care of a senior family member.

The robot cannot only respond to greetings by the owner, it can also ask riddles or sing songs as a way of stimulating the brain functions of the elderly.

Another robot that is in the market is the Chapit, developed by Ray Tron, Inc. This robot actually helps the elderly in operating various equipment inside their homes. The robot eliminates the confusion that the elderly feel when trying to operate so many different devices at home.

Japanese Gov’t urges support for suicide victims

One of the most disturbing and definitely saddest facts about Japan is its high suicide rate. Many experts give different views about this phenomenon, but personally, whatever the reasons are, the alarmingly high number of lives lost in the country is very alarming and dampens Japan’s national spirit.

Today the Japanese government issued a statement about this subject, urging that there is a need to take on the issue as a society especially with the number of suicides exceeding 300,000 again for the ninth straight year. The World Health Organization actually ranks Japan as the country with the ninth highest number of suicide victims.

The announcement is part of the first counter suicide white paper that has been released this year. The governement is calling for more care for suicide survivors and support for the families who lost loved ones through suicide.

In its first “counter-suicide white paper” for 2007, the government recognized suicide as a death of a person driven to desperation and someone who is at the end of their rope and said it is necessary to provide care to survivors of suicide attempts as well as the bereaved families of those who have killed themselves. The white paper reflects the government’s concerns over the findings of the World Health Organization, which ranked Japan as the ninth highest in the world for the number of suicide victims per 100,000 persons.

Baby Hatch

Despite much controversy and opposition a hospital at Kumamoto, Kyodo has installed the first ever baby hatch in Japan. The baby hatch is placed in the first floor of the Jikei Hospital and built into the wall. It is accessible outside through a door, which the parents can open to be able to pace the baby on a small specialized bed that maintains the same conditions as an incubator does. The hospital staff is alerted by an alarm and a surveillance camera pointed at the baby’s bed automatically starts capturing images once the door of the hatch is opened.

Taiji Hasuda, the hospital director, says that the baby hatch is a last resort meant to save the lives of babies who would otherwise be left to die. They however hope that parents will instead seek help from the hospital instead of leaving their babies in the hatch.

Kapuseru Hoteru (Capsule Hotels)

A capsule hotel is a type of hotel accommodation popular mostly among travelers stranded for the night and those who are on a tight budget. Capsules are usually about 2m by 1m by 1.5m in dimension and so is unsuitable for those above six feet tall and, of course, for a claustrophobic. Despite the very limited space you will be surprised at how well equipped these hotels are. Each capsule usually comes with a built in mini TV, radio, and alarm clock, plus fresh bedding of course. You can also use the hotel’s lockers, shower rooms, laundry facilities, restaurants, vending machines, and clothes shop. An overnight stay costs Â¥2000-4000 while an afternoon nap is usually even cheaper.

Capsule hotels have been around since 1979 and is pretty common in Japan. However the concept still hasn’t spread to other countries despite the convenience they bring.

Vinegar, anyone?

Whoever thought that vinegar would become a popular drink? It sure is good for cooking and salad dressings but it is quite difficult to imagine drinking vinegar, isn’t it? Well in Japan, vinegar is one of the most sought after drinks. This is, however, not the vinegar that we are used to.

Called su, or rice vinegar, this liquid has a lot of purported health benefits. As such, it has become quite popular with the Japanese. Restaurants and cafes sell drinks comprised of rice vinegar and fruits or other ingredients. Aside from drinks, food establishments are trying to out do each other by incorporating rice vinegar into every dish imaginable – from vegetables to meat to desserts!

The main health benefit of vinegar is to lower blood pressure. It also prevents lactic acid to build up, making people less prone to fatigue. Other benefits are better digestion and resistance to fungal ailments.
[tags]Japan, food, drinks, su, rice vinegar, health[/tags]

World’s Oldest Person

Japan is well known to the rest of the world as the home of all things innovative and sometimes, quirky. Yet today, Japan hits the headlines with a distinction of another kind – home to the oldest surviving person in the whole world. Yone Minagawa, 114 years old, receives this recognition as the other 114-year-old person in the world died. She was Emma Faust Tillman from the U.S.

Minagawa was born in January 4, 1893 and had five children in all. She has outlived all her children. Her 7 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, however, visit her regularly. Minagawa lives in a nursing home in Fukuchi in southern Japan. When told of the news, she just broke into a huge smile and said “My goodness, I am grateful.”

The nursing home staff says that Minagawa is quite active for her age and never fails to socialize with the people around her. Additionally, she has an amazingly healthy appetite for someone her age and loves sweets as well.
[tags]Women, Seniors, Old Age, southern Japan, Oldest person[/tags]